The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has approved an allocation of €1.4 million for the Coonagh to Knockalisheen scheme to advance to full Tender Stage. On successfully completing the Tender Stage, the scheme should proceed to construction by the end of 2014.
Limerick City and County Council has welcomed this allocation and is confident that construction should begin this year on the €40m Coonagh to Knockalisheen Road Scheme following this allocation of €1.4m for the project.
The scheme, a key element of the Moyross Regeneration Programme, will provide a new link road to Moyross, and a new 3km urban style dual carriageway between the R857 at the Coonagh roundabout and the Knockalisheen Road along the North West side of the city.
As part of the project, the Knockalisheen Road will also be upgraded with new footpaths and cycle lanes resulting in improved access to communities, increased potential for development and reduced congestion in the city centre.
The €1.4m funding is in addition to €1.5m already allocated at the start of 2014 and it has been allocated to complete the land acquisition and commence construction of the scheme.
Brian Geaney, Home and Social Directorate, Limerick City and County Council described the allocation as ‘great news particularly for the people of Moyross.’
“This road is a key element of the new infrastructure required to open up Moyross and should be the catalyst to drive on the remainder of the work required under the Regeneration Framework Implementation plans and attract in private investment,” he explained.
“It’s a major project costed at €40m out of a total of €106m value of projects for the Moyross area and it will provide a great boost for the overall Regeneration process resulting in approx 100 plus construction jobs over a 30 month construction period.”
Chairperson of the Moyross Regeneration Committee and Principal of Corpus Christi School, Moyross, Tiernan O’Neill described the announcement as “hugely welcome” by the community.
“Moyross has been synonymous with being known as Ireland’s longest cul-de sac for many years,” he said.
“The image of Moyross as a dead end has both physical and metaphorical connotations and this access route which opens Moyross to the surrounding communities is a very significant step in the Regeneration of the area. I would like to put on record the Regeneration Committees appreciation of the work officials from the Office of Regeneration have put into getting this proposal over the line. It would be a huge boost for the Regeneration Process if this project was shovel ready within the next 6 months.”
The proposed Coonagh to Knockalisheen Road Scheme will provide an essential link road to the Moyross area. In the absence of the planned scheme traffic to Moyross is accessed from the Knockalisheen Road and Killeely Road and ends in a cul-de-sac at Delmege Park.
